A unique digital boardgame with strategy and narrative elements, inspired by games like Pandemic, Arkham Horror, and Talisman. As a Heretic Operative, a secret mage sworn to oppose the Cult, you must harness the arcane without becoming lost in its power.
The game offers a variety of scenarios, each with unique objectives and challenges influenced by different cults. Selecting the scenario, cult, and playable operative creates a high degree of replayability, as the game plays out quite differently based on these choices.
The core gameplay loop involves moving operatives between locations on the map and taking actions. Each turn, players have only 2 action points to spend, encouraging careful resource management and strategic decision-making. Unspent actions convert into "Fate" points that provide additional benefits.
A key mechanic is the use of spells and management of "Corruption." Players can acquire spellbooks granting powerful arcane abilities, but using these spells increases the Corruption level of the operative. If Corruption becomes too high, the operative goes "mad" and becomes unplayable. This creates tension between wielding greater magical power and the risk of succumbing to Corruption.
As players progress, they can recruit additional operatives and acquire artifacts to mitigate Corruption risks and provide new strategic options. Mastering the various operative abilities and how they synergize with different scenarios is crucial for success.
The game features a dynamic narrative driven by randomized event cards and dice rolls, creating a sense of unpredictability. Players must adapt their strategies to deal with unexpected challenges and opportunities, with the carefully balanced systems ensuring multiple viable paths to victory.
The gameplay has a steep learning curve, and the game can be quite challenging, especially on higher difficulty settings. However, many players praise this difficulty as it creates a sense of triumph when overcoming the obstacles. The high degree of replayability ensures each playthrough feels fresh and engaging.